Patna HC’s Muzaffarpur Gag Order is Incorrect & Must be Reviewed

Patna HC restrains media from reporting anything about investigation, but this violates law on free speech.

When are prior restrictions on reporting by the media acceptable?

The Americans would unapologetically say: never. The Canadians would apologise, then see if press freedom was at stake, and then probably say they aren’t acceptable. The English would say they can be in the interests of ensuring justice. The Chinese would… well, never mind.

In India, the law only allows prior restraints on press reporting in very limited circumstances, but unfortunately this has not stopped even the courts from imposing legally-questionable restrictions, from the CBI court in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case to the Supreme Court in the Justice Karnan case.

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